27th May 2013 PRESS RELEASE
Aam Aurat Admi Against Gambling (AAAAG) strongly condemns the government for the proliferation of casino in the Mandovi river and demands removal of all casinos immediately. The insincerity and collusion of the Chief Minister becomes evident with the brazen entry of new casino vessel Horse Shoe into the river. On the floor of the House, during Assembly session, the Chief Minister stated that that he would remove all the casinos. Instead of taking steps to remove the casinos, he has further consolidated the casino industry in the state. Mr Manohar Parrikar has been consistently lying and fooling the people of Goa. While in the opposition ,Mr Manohar Parrikar led a protest against the casinos and used the people’s movements to come to power . After coming to power,he made several amendments to the Goa Gambling prevention Act in favour of the casinos . The entry fee was reduced from Rs 2000 to Rs 500. The powers of the lower courts to hear casino related cases was removed and a Gaming Commission was to be set up in August 2012. Till date no Gaming Commissioner is in place and the casinos are given a free hand without any authority to monitor them. The floating offshore casinos have clogged the Mandovi river, illegally occupying public space. The casino cartel have bought huge tracts of land , properties and flats in Goa. Helipads and jetties are being built with government consent. Huge tracts of lands have been purchased near Mopa. Goa is being gobbled up by casino monopolies. Government’s policies are paving way for new breed of settlers in Goa, namely gamblers . The lifestyles of these gamblers which includes night life in gambling dens, escorts and prostitutes,alcohol ,illegal transactions , crime, has adversely affected the localities where they are housed. The peace and tranquility of Panjim has been disturbed and safety of people compromised. The passing of a resolution for special status to protect the identity of Goa is a sham, with the government going whole hog destroying the identity, by promoting the hegemony of casinos in the state. AAAAG will resist all attempts of the government to make Goa the gambling capital of India. AAAAG has called a meeting on Tuesday,28th May 2013 at 4.30 pm in Institute Piedade Hall, Panaji to chalk the future plan of action. Dr Sabina Martins For AAAAG
